[Southsider2k12]

http://www.indystar.com/article/20091129/B...beer-on-Sundays

Indiana microbrewers want to sell beer on Sundays
Microbrewers want to be able to sell beer on Sundays
By Bill Ruthhart
Posted: November 29, 2009

When visitors tour Indiana wineries on a Sunday afternoon, not only can they sample the wine, they can take some home.

Now, Indiana's microbreweries say it's time their visitors were given the same opportunity.
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The Brewers of Indiana Guild is lobbying lawmakers to allow its microbreweries to sell beer on Sunday, an important day for tourism.

"You can't market yourself for tourism if on one of the busiest days, your customers can't take anything with them," said Ted Miller, owner of the Brugge Brasserie brewery in Broad Ripple and president of the guild.

"We're all tiny guys," he said. "We're all small brewers. We're mom and pops who want to be able to get people into our breweries, sell them a little beer."

The small brewers have a legislative ally but a very large obstacle: Their push very well might be swallowed up by a much bigger debate on the issue of Sunday alcohol sales.

Big-box retailers, convenience shops and grocery stores have launched their own intensive lobbying offensive to allow Sunday carryout sales, currently banned by state law, in advance of the upcoming legislative session.

Earlier this year, a legislative study committee recommended against that effort.

More significantly to the brewers guild, the committee also voted against backing the brewery sales. The discussion didn't focus on the merits of the breweries as a tourism business, however, but on concerns that consideration of that bill could open up a greater discussion about Sunday sales.

As a result, Rep. Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City, recommended lawmakers steer clear of the microbrewery issue to avoid any chance of a larger fight over Sunday sales. The committee's chairman, Rep. Trent VanHaaften, D-Mount Vernon, agreed.

"It's all about timing," said Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette, who supports Sunday sales for microbreweries. "The timing is not favorable for them right now, because of the big-box stores wanting to have Sunday sales, too."

Still, Alting said he would introduce a bill for the microbreweries in the upcoming legislative session and plans to hear it in the Senate Commerce and Public Policy Committee he chairs. He said he'd ask fellow lawmakers and lobbyists not to amend it to apply to any other issue -- especially Sunday sales at grocery and convenience stores.